I think about stuff
Okay, lots of stuff to cover and get through and all of that.
First, the other day I cam across this cool blog/site called Best Fantasy Books.com. Another site had a link to this post about ARCs and reviews that I thought was really interesting.
Most of my thoughts on the subject are covered in my comment, which is the fifth comment down:
I ( Read more... )
First, the other day I cam across this cool blog/site called Best Fantasy Books.com. Another site had a link to this post about ARCs and reviews that I thought was really interesting.
Most of my thoughts on the subject are covered in my comment, which is the fifth comment down:
I ( Read more... )
Reviews: The point is to make readers aware that your book exists first, then if it should be bought. You're right it's not for the authors at all. That's what fan mail and edits from editors and first readers are for.
Agentfail: I respectfully disagree on some of the issues. First, there's no reason to spew vitriol like you see in those sorts of threads (and I'm sorry the BookEnds ladies are catching it. I, too, had fantastic professional encounters with them.)
Second, I do hate it when agents have a n-response policy. I understand a need for it, but it's rude in my opinion. I think that agenting opens you up to this kind of business proposal (provided the agent is open to submissions. If they aren't then the queryer is owed nothing.) As an agent you are going to get queries. Period. Just like a customer service person is going to have to field complaints. Yeah, some are stupid and nothing more than nuisances, but fielding them is part of the job. (Unless the agent is not open to submissions, like I said earlier.)
I know that queries are low on the totem pole, and that's fine. And it's not that I'm "owed" an answer, it's that it's polite. Not being acknowledged at all is, yes it's personal, yes it hurts my feelings and publishing is not about feelings, but this is people involved.
Looking over my list of queries for my latest book I have a lot of NR-Assumed rejection. And now that I'm starting to query another book I'm looking at those people and you know what, I want to submit to the people who answered and I don't know if I'd want to sign with an agent who formerly completely ignored me.
You, and other fine, intelligent authors preach to us un-agented folk that we need to find an agent who we can work with. One who is passionate about our work and believes in us. How can you not question an agent who can't be bothered to answer with two letters? How can you not wonder if you're so unimportant then, will you fall between the cracks if you sign with them? If you don't sell good and fast, will they stop replying to you again?
How many times have I heard people saying that happened to them? I have to wonder if it'll happen to me, and honestly I don't have time to waste being jerked around by that kind of person, whether they are an agent or not.
You mentioned auto-responses. That would definitely go a long way to help. So would agents admitting that they only respond if interested (most of the non replies I've gotten promise to respond in 2 weeks or a month.)
Personally I'm having a problem resolving this attitude that I'm worth nothing until [Insert agent, editor or publishing professional here] says that I am. I have already been subjected to bad treatment until someone said "Don't you know she's a reviewer" or "Don;t you know who that is" at which point the person changes their tune significantly. And I haven't even sold a book yet, so I can imagine how much worse it could get. That totally reeks, and that's what I get from agents who don't respond (and don't warn you that they don't respond).
The book might be shit, but I want to deal with professionals who think that the writer behind it, especially when they take time to follow the guidelines and research the markets, deserve at least a "no".
Yes, paying clients come first by a long shot. But they weren't always paying clients, and we all deserve respect (when we earn it by following guidelines and ) whether we're published or not, and really whether we suck or not.
I really do sit here looking at my notebook at all the nonresponses and ask myself if I want to query them or not for my next project. In the end I usually decide that they are too few SF/F agents in the first place, but isn't that attitude of "Well I gotta put up with it because that's what the agent thinks is right" exactly what gets people involved with scam agents and shitty presses that crash and burn and rip off authors in the process?
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First, I'm really sorry if you took anything in my post as being dismissive of you or of other writers in the querying process, or that I personally think you're worthless or whatever because no agent or editor has told me otherwise. Your replies didn't indicate to me that you necessarily did, but I'm just putting it out there anyway. I don't think of you that way; I don't really think of anyone that way.
Second, yes, the vitriol is unhelpful and makes everyone involved look like babies.
Third, I'm not necessarily defending NR=N policies. I don't have a problem with the policy--although again, if you're going to have it you should set up an auto-respond or even just say "Query me return receipt requested and I'll tick it off, no problem" (which struck me today as possibly the best solution)--but I don't think it's a great thing either, you know? It's not that I don't think writers have a right to dislike it, I just don't understand the fury. To me what the rage essentially is, is the idea that agents should be doing everything in their power to make themselves available to the individual writers, and easy to query, and I just don't see that as being correct, either. You know?
And while I see your point, about wondering if you'll fall through the cracks, I see it a little differently. To me the NR=N policy is a sign that the agent in question is devoting all of--or as much as is humanly possible--of his or her time to his or her clients. My agent does NR=N, and it's specifically for that reason; because to reply to every query, even with a C&P form letter, takes time. (I actually talked to him about this last night.) He gets 30-50 queries per day. In addition to all the other emails, most of which are probably from me, lol (all of which he responds to promptly, btw). So even a minute one each, to read, hit Reply, paste in the form, and hit send--especially if the reply is to be personalized with the writer's name, as many seem to think should be done--can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour. Every day. That's a lot of time.
You can look at that time in one of two ways; either it's part of their job, or a big part of their job, or it isn't. And people are going to see that differently, and that's just the way it is.
Not replying to queries when you say you do, is a totally different matter, IMO. That *is* rude, and wrong. Have the policy or don't, but don't tell people you'll respond when you won't. Period. There's really no excuse for that.
I also have an issue with agents who don't respond to requested material. Again, that is WRONG. You asked for the material, you owe the writer a reply. Especially if you're one of those who still wants hard copies, because yes, that's a lot of trouble to print and mail (it also irritated me when I queried one agent who took email queries--exclusively if memory serves--and yet requested the first 100 pages hard copy. Even knowing that I was in the UK. It didn't impress me; to me it indicated a lack of consideration for me, especially when I replied to say very nicely thanks for the request, it may take a few days as I had to mail it from the UK. I would have thought at that point that the agent in question would have offered to let me email it. Oh well. I wasn't angry about it--a little irritated, perhaps, lol, but not angry--but it didn't make a favorable impression, and I feel that if you're going to taje equeries exclusively you should mention in your guidelines that although you take equeries, requests for materials will be for hard copy. There was no indication on the site that this was the case, and I wouldn't have queried if I'd known that. (Now I'm ranting, lol.)
Anyway, the point is, requested materials should be replied to, period.
And yes, I see your point about that sort of thinking, and I don't mean to say Agents Are Always Right And You Can Suck It. :-) Just that the sense of entitlement from some people is mind-boggling, and doesn't do anyone any good. You know?
Hugs, dear.
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Remembering that I write because I enjoy it really helps balance out all the frustrations with trying to get published.
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